These articles are published in the Slough Town FC programme. The Rebels play in the Southern Premier - just seven leagues below the Premier League. I’ve been supporting Slough since the beginning of time despite now living in Brighton. After nearly 14 nomadic years we finally have a brand spanking new home in Slough.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED – BORING OLD CONSOLIDATION

Printed in the Southern League Premier Division game v Kings Lynn on Saturday 16th April 2016. We won our last home game of the season 2-0 in front of 338 and hopefully our last game at Beaconsfield, as we will be moving into our new ground next season.

My
Slough Town report for the season has arrived and it makes for grim
reading.

There
was a time when I wouldn't miss a friendly, would travel up for trust
meetings, fun days, infact if someone was blowing up an amber and
blue balloon, I would be there with my puff.

But
this season, I'm not sure i've even reached double figures watching
the Rebels. I made it to the trips to Kings Lynn, Dorking Wanderers
and Basingstoke. I've got my six-hours-on-train ticket to Merthyr and
am looking forward to see how their 3G pitch plays out cos i'm sad
like that.

It was the first
time in years that I didn't get a season ticket and didn't buy a new
top. A combination of work, community pub and children have conspired
against me. Even more sacrilegious is that I now have an overpriced
Brighton and Hove Albion season ticket thanks to my son.

But
it really isn't the same. Yes, there was nearly 30,000 at Brighton v
Burnley (despite it being second v first, two opposing supporters
were still managing to moan to each other about their clubs). It was
a lovely spring day, great atmosphere and Brighton were denied 3
points by a last gasp Burnley goal, that would have put them top of
the league. But it didn't gut churn me as much as a last minute goal
would have done against Slough. I didn't really care when the
pantomime figure Joey Barton trod on players and wound up the crowd.
I just thought everyone would like a Barton type player in their team
and that people take football far too seriously.

I
can still remember that Yeovil cheer nearly 40 years ago when they
scored with a few minutes to go to knock us out of the FA Cup and
deny us a place in the third round for the first time ever and i'm
still slightly peeved about losing to Basingstoke in the FA Cup
earlier in the season.

To
be honest, I can feel my life force being sucked out of me every time
I walk into the Beaconsfield clubhouse and being in our new ground
actually in Slough will make things a lot easier for me – as well
as bring in new supporters from the town. (it might also liven up the
forum which reminds me of a few old blokes in a pub arguing over the
price of a stamp). It would also be good if a few more saved all that
hot air and wrote an article or two for the programme instead.

I've
watched from afar as the Supporters Trust have really stepped up,
increased membership and had a good presence in the town. Photos of
the ground taking shape have put a spring in my step. Forgot the fact
that for the past couple of seasons, the squeaky bum
play-off/relegation battles have been replaced with boring old
consolidation. Just what the doctor ordered!

As
new Brighton fans need reminding that their club lost their ground
thanks to a dodgy owner and were moments away from being relegated
from the football league and that they mounted an impressive direct
action campaign to get their new ground. As time goes by, new Rebels
will not know the basket-case that was Slough Town FC. No ground, no
money, no players losing 9-0, 8-0, bucket collections from other fans
to keep us going. We were teetering on the brink.

So
there's much to be proud of, and the fans that have stuck with the
club, should give themselves a big pat on the back. A new ground will
breathe new life and new supporters into the club and will at
least give us a realistic shot at being in the Conference South in
the next few seasons. Oh and as we are still waiting for that first
ever appearance in the FA Cup 3rd
round can I put in a request for that to happen before I go senile
and forget that I was ever a Slough Town fan.See you next season (hopefully, sometimes).